Pop (Organisation)

The B'ax B'a Otot in Aachanecalco, Pulacan, headquarter of the Aj B'axob Pop, the 'Community Association of Industrial Workers'

A Pop (Mutli: పొపొ; lit. 'Mat') is a type of organization found among Mutulese migrants, predominantly in the Nahuatl-speaking world and the Kayamuca Sea. In K'iche, the word 'Pop' mean 'Mat', a typical symbol of the community and its union, and thus generally refer to any form of assembly. Depending on the context, the Popob can be described as a fraternal organizations, secret societies, or Neighborhood associations.

These associations provide services and support for the local Mutuleses (and more specifically Chaan) communities such as immigrant counseling, Mutli schools, and night schools for adults. They are known to have tie with workers movements and unions and even to have developed into members-owned holdings to promote Workplace democracy in accordance with the tenets of Occidentalism.

History

Origins

The 'Pop' is originally a symbol of the Kʼicheʼ people representing the Community due to the tradition of the polity' assembly gathering on or around a straw mat as a symbol of union. the leader of such an assembly was called the 'Ajpop', 'He of the Mat', generally translated by 'King'. The most famous of such K'iche pop was the Kingdom of Kumakah and its pop was made of the aristocratic lineages of the Nimabal K'iche, Tahub, Ilok'tab, and the K'oyol. As the Kingdom expanded they integrated or created other Popob representing newly conquered people. The short-lived Nimabal K'iche and Tahub Divine Monarchies thus ruled over a patchwork of Popob representing vassalized but semi-autonomous kingdoms generally led by K'iche lineages enthroned by the Divine King. It's only under the Ilok'tab that these Kingdoms would be abolished, replaced by a system of Vice-royalties. The K'uhul Ajaw however to this day continue to sit from a straw mat within his palace and a straw mat is symbolically hanged to the wall when the Estate Generals are in session.